Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to work and live in New Brunswick. Candidates applying for this program must be endorsed by a designated employer. The program helps New Brunswick employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally.

We are now accepting expressions of interest from New Brunswick employers. If you are an employer looking to become designated and endorse a candidate, visit the INB Portal, create an employer profile or log into an existing profile, and submit an expression of interest.

Download the list of designated employers under the Atlantic Immigration Program

Steps to follow to acquire the AIP Designation as a New Brunswick employer.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

• Log in to your INB Employer Profile. If you are a “New Employer” select the Register button.
• In My EOI tab, fill out registration details. The contact person is the company’s designated point person that will have continuous access to the INB profile to complete next steps and verify updates.
• Complete company details, company description, sector, years in province, and labour needs. For jobs, include title, location, NOC Code, salary, and start date.
• Submit EOI and wait on notification of Invitation to Apply (ITA) to continue AIP Designation Application.

INVITATION TO APPLY (ITA)

• Based on officer assessment and recommendation, an ITA will be issued to continue the AIP Designation Application via the INB portal.
• Notification will be sent to you as the contact person. Login to INB Portal and continue next steps under the My Application tab.

DESIGNATION APPLICATION & DECISION

• Login to INB portal and click My Application tab.
• Verify/update company contact details if needed. Complete and/or upload your AIP Designation Application (see “Employer Documents” section). Click icon of PDF document, save and upload to Employer Documents section and submit.
• Your Designation Application will be reviewed by an Immigration Officer, and you will be notified through your INB Portal if your company has been issued an AIP Designation.

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT

• If AIP designation is approved, the employer must provide hired candidate with the company INB number indicated on the official designation letter in Notifications tab of INB portal.
• The candidate can then begin their application on the INB Portal by selecting the Candidate Registration button and submit their request to apply to AIP with the endorsement of their employer.

The Atlantic Immigration Program is an employer-driven immigration program aimed at addressing labour market needs in the four Atlantic Provinces.

To become designated, your organization must:

• Not be in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
• Be in good standing and comply with employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation.
• Not recruit or hire workers for the purpose of establishing a pool of candidates that can be later transferred or contracted out to separate businesses for staffing purposes.
• Have been in continuous, active operation under the same management for at least 2 years in 1 of the Atlantic provinces, or be able to show continuous, active operation in another location with confirmation of approval from the province in which you’re applying for designation.
• Work with a New Brunswick settlement service provider organization to help your candidates get settlement services.
• Commit to taking the onboarding training.
• Commit to taking the intercultural competency training unless you’re exempted by the province. A New Brunswick workforce attraction officer will inform you if you need to take the training during the intake conversation.

Guides

• Quick Guide to submitting a Designation Application
• Visual Guide to submitting a Designation Application
• Document Checklist for the Atlantic Immigration Program
• Atlantic Immigration Program – New Brunswick Endorsement Guidelines
• Quick guide to submitting an Endorsement Application
• Visual guide to submitting and Endorsement Application

1. Read Our Guide

Employers will apply for the Atlantic Immigration Program Employer Designation through the INB Portal. Consult the Atlantic Immigration Program guide for comprehensive information on the program. Please read it carefully before applying.

Topics covered include eligibility requirements, selection factors, the application process, and other important information.

• A fillable Designation application form will be provided to eligible employers once the Expression of Interest is reviewed by the province.
• Existing Employers please log in to your INB employer profile and complete an expression of interest.
• New Employers please create an account on INB and submit an expression of interest.

2. Employer Position Endorsement

Once the employer is designated, they may apply to the province to endorse a position for a foreign worker.

To have a position endorsed, an employer must:

• Receive Designation from New Brunswick.
• Demonstrate that efforts to hire locally have been unsuccessful.
• Recruit a foreign worker.
• Provide a valid, full-time, non-seasonal job offer co-signed by the foreign worker.
• Provide an individualized settlement plan through one of New Brunswick’s settlement service providers, co-signed by the foreign worker.
• Complete mandatory onboarding training.
• Complete intercultural competency training, unless exempted by the province.

Documents that will be required at the endorsement application stage:

• IMM0157E Job Offer Form.
• Signed offer letter or contract.
• Detailed Job Description.
• Proof of recruitment efforts.
• Evidence of the candidate’s previous work experience.
• A valid language assessment (IELTS or CELPIP for English, TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French).
• The Principal Applicant’s (including any accompanying family members’) Settlement Plan.
• Signed copy of the Endorsement Application Form.
• If the candidate is already in Canada, a copy of their legal status in the country (work permit, visitor permit, or study permit).
• Copy of passport for principal applicant and dependents.

3. Foreign Worker Immigration Application

Once the employer position(s) are endorsed, the foreign worker(s) identified by the employer can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency under the Atlantic Immigration Program. The foreign worker may also receive a temporary work permit while waiting for permanent residency.

To apply for Permanent Residency (PR), foreign workers must:

• Have a valid endorsement certificate issued by New Brunswick.
• Foreign workers who require a work permit must have a work permit referral letter issued by the province.
• Employers supporting work permit applications must register in the federal employer portal, submit the job offer, and pay a compliance fee.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Application:

Please ensure to submit a complete application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This includes detailed reference letters with main duties, demonstrating you have met the description of the lead statement of the NOC, a valid language assessment with qualifying language scores, and proof of education accompanied by an Education Credential Assessment or Canadian equivalency.

Please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the Atlantic Immigration Program checklist, and for more information on permanent residency requirements.

4. Post-Endorsement Requests

NBAIP-21 – Post-Endorsement Request Form